Cigarette receptacle



Nov. 25, 1958 c. GLASSER CIGARETTE RECEPTACLE Filed Feb. 14, 1957 .I S 2 I a INVENTOR. I Char/es G/asser BY United States Patent f) CIGARETTE RECEPTACLE Charles Glasser, Lakewood, N. J. Application February 14, 1957, Serial No. 640,279

4 Claims. (Cl. 131-235 This invention, relates to a receptacle. adapted to be used as a cigarette dispenser, extinguisher and ash receiver. More particularly, it relates to a receptacle for cigarettes wherein extinguishing cells are provided therefor, to which use, however, it is not restricted.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Serial No. 413,183, filed March 1, 1954, entitled Safety Cigarette Receptacle, now abandoned.

Known types of ash trays have been formed, as an integral part thereof, with blocks having a number of vertical cylindrical cups or cells into which the lighted ends of cigarettes may be inserted and extinguished. Such cups or cells have an internal diameter but slightly greater than the diameter of a cigarette, and, even when a used cigarette is not pressed down within the cup or cell, the air supply to the burning end is suificiently cut off toextinguish it.

If extinguished cigarettes remain inthe cup. or cells they emit an offensive odor. If the butts are removed, much of the odor is still given off by the residue which has condensed within the cups or cells. A difiicult cleaning problem results, especially since most of the odorous and unsightly condensate hardens at the .bottom of a cup of such small diameter.

I have now found it possible to provide a receptacle for discarded cigarettes and ashes which may not give off; an odor after use, even when not cleaned; and which may be thoroughly cleaned with ease and dispatch. No pocket bottom exists in the extinguishing member to defy adequate cleaning. A receptacle according to the invention provides an internal non-extinguishing temporary support for a lit cigarette, and furthermore the receptacle may be given a pleasing and ornamental appearance.

According to the invention, a receptacle is provided for cigarette butts and ashes which comprises a container body and a closely fitting, removable insert for the container having a plurality of cigarette extinguishing cells which may extend completely therethrough. In use, the insert remains completely within the container and does not present the unsightly appearance of the usual open ash tray with its soiled extinguishing cells prominently displayed. To clean the container it is merely necessary to remove the insert wash with appropriate detergent. If required, a suitably formed brush may be run through the cells. The upper face and bottom of the container may be easily cleaned.

The invention contemplates an insert construction which incorporates many novel features: it may be rotated within its container or dialed to position empty cells proximate the user, or within view of the driver in automobiles, thus prolonging the necessary periods before emptying; it provides a multi-purpose lip performing the functions of an interior scraping edge into a central opening for cigarette or cigar ashes thereby preventing soiling the rim of the container; it provides an effective gripping surface or handle for inserting or removing the insert to and from the container; it provides a non-conducting heat 2,861,577 Patented Nov. 25, 1958 "ice of' combustion edge contact for burning cigarettes declin-- extinguishing cigarette support.

The receptacle forming my invention maybe fitted with a base adapted for use in vehicles and boats. special construction prevents displacement of the insert in sudden stops, over bumpy roads or rough water.

Further features and objects of the invention will be more fully understood from the following detail description and the accompanying drawings, in which: i

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a mounted receptacle partly cut away to show the construction of the various cooperating elements forming my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the disk insert; and

Fig. 3 is a cross section of the disk insert taken on line 33 of'Fig. 2.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1, there is shown a receptacle 10 comprising a container 11, a disk insert 12 formed to fit closely and removably in the container, and an optional stand 13 for the container.

The container 11 is box-like, and in this embodiment is cylindrical in form. It has a bottom 14 which could rest upon a plane surface, as a table, desk or shelf, and has an open top 15, here shown with an outwardly extending rim 16. Declining cigarette rests 17 disposed between two vertical clamps 18 preferably slope downwardly and inwardly at approximately a 25 angle and afford means for safely retaining a cigarette in lighted condition within the interior of the container. Such clamps are spaced apart less than the diameter of a cigarette. This serves to prevent a cigarette positioned therebetween from being jarred out of the container 11 and also to extinguish it upon contact with the burning end.

The insert 12 is shown as a block preferably of disk formation to fit closely and removably in the container 11. Being of cylindrical shape, the insert may be easily rotated with a finger in the. top of one of the cells 21,

similar to dialing a telephone, to bring any set of unused cells into position for use as shown in Fig. 2. The insert has a plane lower face 19 at right angles to its axis, and

when placed within the container, rests with this face in contact with the upper face of the container bottom 14. The insert also has a parallel plane upper face 20. The height of the insert 12, that is to say the distance between its parallel faces 19 and 20, is such that its upper face 20 is positioned below the rim of the container and the notched rests 17 thereon when the insert is positioned within the container. Thus, the top of the container extends above the upper face 20 of the insert and the rests 17 preferably decline inwardly toward the center opening of the insert. Accordingly, a cigarette positioned in one of the rests 17 of the container as illustrated in Fig. 1 will slope downwardly to make contact with the inner upper edge of the upper face 20 of the insert and will not fall outwardly of the receptable 10 upon its supporting surface.

The insert 12 has a plurality of cigarette extinguishing cells 21 extending completely therethrough from its upper face to its lower face, and these cells are preferably cylindrical in form and of a size slightly greater than the crosssection of a cigarette. Thus, cigarette butts may be extinguished in the cells 21 by being inserted therein without being pressed downwardly. The cell thereupon sufficiently cuts off the air supply from the lighted end of the cigarette to extinguish it. By forming the insert 12 as described, it is easily removed from the container for cleaning purposes. Thus the interior of the container may be scrubbed, brushed or otherwise cleansed and the insert may be subjected to the action of an ordinary small brush to cleanse its cells 21, and may be suitably scrubbed upon its parallel plane faces and about its periphery. Complete cleansing is therefore made possible in a manner which is not permitted by cup-shaped cells or by non-removable elements in which cigarette extinguishing cells are formed.

It is preferable to mold the receptacle of a burnproof plastic such as that sold under the registered trademark Bakelite, which not only is an odorless material, but does not absorb odors from the tobacco deposited therein. Use of this material therefore reduces cleaning to a mini mum usually requiring only the usual emptying of contents to maintain the receptacle in satisfactory usable condition. I

It is to be noted that no great depth need be given the cigarette extinguishing cells 21. A depth of from 1% to 1% inches is sufficient, although greater depths are, of course, permissible.

Ashes may be deposited upon the upper plane face of the insert 12 and a large proportion of them may drop into any cells which are not filled to their top by cigarette butts. Furthermore, a central passage 22 is shown extending completely through the insert parallel to the cells 21 for the further reception of ashes, burned matches or the like. The formation of a protruding beveled lip 23, preferably at a 45 angle of declination forms a convenient means of removing the insert from the container.

As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the lip 23 makes a right angle connection with the walls of the central passage 24. This important feature not only facilitates handling of the insert, but the outer edge of the lip provides a convenient scraping surface for cigarette or cigar ashes. Further, the 45 angle declination of the lip cooperates with that of the 25 angle of cigarette rests 17 to support a lighted cigarette. This edge contact of the upper edge of the lip with a lighted cigarette resting thereon eliminates conduction of the heat of combustion and therefore prevents prematurely extinguishing it.

Obviously, other form of receptacle might be substituted, without invention, for those here disclosed. For instance, the receptacle may be used as a cigarette or canape dispenser or to hold out flowers, and be mounted on a suitable stand. The insert obviously will operate without insertion within the container to extinguish cigarettes in its cells closed by any suitable supporting surface.

The receiver may be made of any suitable material,

as glass, ceramics, plastic, Bakelite, or metal. Furthermore, the invention is not limited to a table receiver, but may be attached in any desired manner to walls, automobile cowls above an instrument panel, on boats, or elsewhere, in any usual way, as by suction cups, screws, bolts, magnetism, spring pressed contacts or otherwise,

all as well known in the art.

The forms of the invention particularly described and illustrated in this specification are presented merely as examples of how the invention may be applied. Other forms and embodiments of the invention within the proper scope of the appended claims will, of course, suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

l. A cigarette receptacle comprising a body having an upper rim thereon, inwardly declined cigarette supporting means disposed about said rim, extinguishing means disposed centrally of said body, said extinguishing means being provided with a lip declining inwardly therefrom at an angle greater than that of the bottom of said supporting means, whereby the angular inclination of said lip relative to that of said supporting means cooperates to permit combustion of a lighted cigarette upwardly and outwardly beyond the edge of said lip, when resting in said supporting means and on said edge.

2. A cigarette receptacle according to claim 1, wherein said cigarette supporting means is provided with clamping means spaced apart less than the diameter of a cigarette, whereby said clamping means extinguishes a cigarette clamped therein upon contact with its burning end.

3. A cigarette receptacle according to claim 1 wherein said extinguishing means is separable from said body and said lip serves as gripping means for such separation.

4. A cigarette receptacle according to claim 3 wherein said body is annular and said extinguishing means is rotatably mounted therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

